Electrical connection method for mold components and a plastic injection molding press

Abstract

There is provided a new and improved method for connecting electrical components in a mold with a molding press. The method includes the steps of connecting electrical leads to coded electrical connectors secured to the mold; connecting electrical connectors to detachable electrical cables; and extending and detachably connecting electrical cables to coded connectors of a junction panel or box. The electrical connectors at the mold may be color-coded and/or shape-coded as to pins or keys on the connectors; and likewise, the cables and the electrical connectors at the junction box may also be similarly color-coded and/or shape-coded.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method of providing electrical connections between a molding press having a mold and a controller for operating the press; said method comprising the steps of: 
       providing the mold with a plurality of recessed cavities in an outer wall of the mold of a predetermined size and shape;  
       providing mold connectors having mold bodies which shaped and sized to it into the respective recessed cavities to provide standardized mold connectors for specific mold functions;  
       providing electrical receptacles having contacts in the respective mold connectors with the mold connectors being coded to a specific function;  
       providing a junction box with junction box connectors similarly coded as the mold connectors for the same respective functions; and  
       connecting detachable coded cables having coded plugs at each end thereof, each for plugging into a similarly coded mold connector and a junction box connector.  
     
     
       2. A method in accordance with claim  1 , including the step of: 
       providing a mold connector with an enclosed switch therein with a switch actuator projecting outwardly from the mold connector body to be actuated by a movable portion of the mold.  
     
     
       3. A method in accordance with claim  1 , including the step of: 
       mounting the mold connectors with outer walls of the mold connectors substantially within the outer wall of the mold to prevent damage to the mold connectors during transport of the mold.  
     
     
       4. A method in accordance with claim  1  wherein the mold connectors, plugs and junction connectors are color-coded and keyed to prevent wrong connections.